News Brief

12/26/2012, Tevet 13, 5773

US Denies Knowledge of Syrian Spokesman's Fate

The United States has denied reports that former Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi was granted asylum in the U.S. and is working with U.S. intelligence. America has no knowledge of Makdissi's whereabouts, a State Department official said.

Pro-government media outlets in Syria have reported that Makdissi is on a sanctioned three-month leave, but the spokesman is widely believed to have fled, following in the footsteps of several other political and military leaders in Syria.